‘Always a dream’: Krajewski reflects on silver medal

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO) — South Dakota is now home to a paralympic silver medalist. Yankton native and University of South Dakota freshman, Miles Krajewski, took home the medal in mixed-doubles badminton on Monday.

Growing up, Krajewski played a few different sports, but he fell in love with badminton.

“There’s not too many sports that dwarfs are able to compete in the Paralympics, and I didn’t enjoy swimming much, and I didn’t like track and field. My best bet was badminton, and I loved it, so I chose that sport.” Krajewski said.

It was always his goal to make it to the Paralympics.

“It was always a dream since I was a little kid. I always wanted to play for Team USA and play on the Paralympic level,” Krajewski said.

In the spring, he made that dream a reality.

“I was in AP Bio class, and I kind of thought I was in, but we couldn’t make it official until April 22nd. That entire time I was happy even though I couldn’t share it with anybody, but once April 22nd hit, I could finally tell people that I made it,” Krajewski said.

For Krajewski, competing in Paris was surreal.

“It was amazing just being able to represent Team USA and South Dakota on that level, and the first few days was to get the nerves out and practice in the venue. Then after that, once the competition started, it was strictly business,” Krajewski said.

That mindset helped Krajewski and his partner, Jayci Simon, make a run to the gold medal match. Although they lost, they became the first athletes in United States Paralympic and Olympic history to medal in badminton.

Housing program for felons expands to Lloyd Companies

“It was crazy that we brought home a medal at the age of 19 for our sport,” Krajewski said.

Now, he’ll have to catch up on his homework at USD.

“Quite a few of the professors were good about it, saying that they’ll help me catch up when I get back, which is very nice of them, and hopefully, it’s not too difficult to catch up,” Krajewski said.

Krajewski also says it means a lot to medal with Simon, who he trained with for three months over the summer.